The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) closed out 2025 with a figure of particular significance for the national innovation ecosystem: a total of 92,569 applications for industrial property rights, the highest number in the last ten years. This volume confirms the sustained growth trend observed in recent years and reflects an increasingly intensive use of legal protection tools for intangible assets by companies, entrepreneurs, and innovation centers.
National Trademarks: The Engine of Growth in Industrial Property
The main driver comes from the trademark sector. In 2025, 57,158 national trademark applications were filed, representing an 11.5% increase over the previous year. This growth is accompanied by a 4.3% rise in renewals of existing trademarks, an indicator that points to greater continuity in the management of trademark portfolios. Meanwhile, international trademarks maintained figures similar to those of 2024, with more than 2,000 applications, suggesting stable interest in protecting trademarks with global reach in the Spanish market.
Trends in Trademark and Domain Name Applications. Source: OEPM
Slight Increase in Patent Applications in Spain
In the field of technology, national patent applications totaled 1,361, exceeding the previous year’s figures by more than 11 percent. When PCT applications in the national phase are included, the total rises to 1,450. Although the absolute volume remains moderate compared to other European countries, this growth reflects a positive trend in Spain’s system for protecting technical innovation.
Stability in Utility Model Applications
Utility model applications also saw a slight increase of 1.7%, reaching 2,886 applications—2,923 including PCT applications in the national phase. This type of application remains an important tool for the protection of technical improvements, especially in industrial sectors where speed in obtaining rights is critical.
European Patent Validations in Spain: A Well-Established Market
A notable finding in the report concerns the validation of European patents in Spain, which totaled 23,295 applications. Although the number is down slightly from 2024, it remains above the levels recorded in 2022 and 2023, confirming the Spanish market’s position as a key destination for technology protection originating in Europe.
Trends in Patent and Utility Model Applications. Source: OEPM
Industrial design protection continues to show the strongest growth
Growth in industrial designs was particularly notable. In 2025, 16,032 design applications were filed, a 14.8% increase over the previous year, consolidating an upward trend that has continued in recent years. This increase reflects the growing importance of protecting the aesthetic appearance of products within business strategies that are increasingly focused on visual differentiation and the value of design.
Trends in Industrial Design Applications. Source: OEPM
Trends and Outlook in Industrial Property
Overall, the figures from the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) reflect a consolidation of growth in the protection of intangible assets, with varying trends depending on the type of intellectual property. The sharp increase in national trademarks and industrial designs points to a business landscape that is increasingly focused on differentiation, corporate identity, and the value of design as a competitive advantage.
At the same time, the increase in patent applications confirms a positive trend in the protection of technical innovation, although the volume still shows room for growth when compared to other European markets.
The report thus paints a picture in which industrial property is becoming an increasingly integral part of business strategy—not only as a legal tool for protection, but also as a key element in strengthening competitiveness and supporting the growth of Spain’s innovation ecosystem.
Applications for Industrial Property Rights in Spain, 2025. Source: OEPM